October 18, 1999
Of the eight plays senior Justin Lloyd has written, one in particular-"Allowing Me to Be Me"-has special meaning. "It's one of the first things I've wanted to write," said Lloyd. The play, according to Lloyd, is 50 percent autobiographical and revolves around four people who portray different parts of one person's personality. It deals with coming out about one's homosexuality.
"Regardless if you're gay or not, you can still get the meaning of the play," he said. A reading of Lloyd's play was performed last year as a Theater in the Raw Production, a Friday afternoon series of student-generated work. Jane Peterson of Theatre and Dance who coordinated the Theater in the Raw said, "I thought the play was powerful and timely. It's exciting to see such heartfelt student work that is also well written."
In high school Lloyd worked at a community theater where he was given the chance to write one of his first plays. Since then, the young playwright has come a long way with seven plays under his belt and an eighth, "First Morning Left," expected to be done this spring. Lloyd, a theater major who expects to graduate in May, plans to take two years off before he pursues a master's degree. During that time, he would like to direct, write, and possibly do some acting. He ultimately wants to teach theater.
A staged reading of "Allowing to Be Me" will be held Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. in Dickson Hall, Room 178.